Connecticut western news., 1887-11-16

Lottie.
 ''I hope we won't. I'm willing to keep on hunting," John rejoined, with sly, shy glance at the pretty face near him.
 "Pve got lot of things to do at home," said Lottie smiling back at him. "Tm trimming new hat"
 "You couldn't improve on that one, :" John put in, with another admiring glance. #
 "And if I'm going to have rice-pud- ding for dinner it ought to be going on, :" said Lottie, musingly
 But she kept on feeling aimlessly about for curtain fixtures.
 "I'd be glad to walk home with you if my time were my own," said John, wist- fully.
 "You've never been to the house, have you2" Lottie queried.
 "You've never invited me-" John re- sponded, with gentle reproach. ''Not that I'd dare to come if you did," he added, with faint motion of his head toward MT. Lamphicr.
 Lottic sighed.
 of you could get an evening off," she suggested, timidly. ''Pa isn't home till half-past ten or so, and"
 John turned radiantly- grateful face upon her.
 "You know I'd be delighted, Miss Lamphier," he almost gasped. 'Td-"
 "Stockhamr' MT. Lamphier's voice was alarmingly near. "I want that box of spices opened immediately"
 MT. Lamphier's head projected itself over the counter; he glared down at the startled pair beneath it.
 John looked at Lottic. There was 6 daring light in his eyes.
 'Tli come this evening""
 He formed the words inaudibly with his lips, and hurried away.
 MT. Lamphier slapped the package of rice on the counter, frowningly.
 Lottie brushed off her dress, read justed her veil, extracted a piece of citron from jar and nibbled at it, and went out with parting smile for John Stockham.
 If Lottie put on her best dress, and her prettiest ruchings, and her silver hair-pin and bracelets, that evening, after her father had eaten his supper and gone back to the store; and if somebody knocked at the kitchen-door about eight: and if the kitchen -rcsounded for two hours thereafter with pleasant chat, and harmless badinage, and light-hearted laughter-if these things occurred, sure ly it was nobody's business.
 '.I don't need to tell you how I've en- joyed the evening, Miss Lamphier," said John Stockham, earnestly, as he rose at last, lingeringly. 'I know shouldn't have come; butt couldn't help it and I can't be sorry did,"
 Certainly not" said Lottie, with pretty warmth.
 'I should like to come again." John pursued; "but of course this isn't the way"
 'I don't care---so now" said Lottie stoutly. 'If pa will be so unreasonable, don't know what else we can Good ness! what is that, Mir. Stockham?'
 She sniffed the air apprehensively.
 John sniffed, too.
 'It's smoke!" he declared.
 'sMercy! whcre" cried Lottie.
 'We'll have to investigate" said John, taking up the lamp.
 They went into the back entry. It was blue with smoke. Lottie gave a little scream.
 Something's afre," said John Stock ham. "Don't be alarmed, Miss Lam phier," he added, sollcitously.
 He opened the wood house door. They were choked by the rush of smoke and hot air. Their startled gaze revealed one side of the wood house alive with licking, darting flames.
 John Stockham's practical mind worked quickly.
 'Where's the sink Mss Lamphier?' he demanded, "and water pail. Two, if possible. We'll have to work to stor it. Is's got a good start"
 They did work. They rushed to and fro with heavy pals of water, half blinded by the smoke, hot from the flames, dripping with spilled water.
 At the end of a confused fifteen min utes, they sat down, exhausted and dig zy, Tn the doorway, and surveyed tn, scene.
 Ono wall of the wood-house wa burned black. At one point the flame had burst through, and the moonligh came streaming in.
 It shone on the recumbent form of red-faced, blowsy, and obviously in ebriated tramp, sleeping peacefully on pile of kindling wood. It shone on dirty clay pipe thrust into little mound of shavings, which still smouldcred. l shone, furthermore, on Mir. Lampshier standing in the wood-house door an, staring in.
 Lottie was more than equal to the oc casion. She was not person to let golden opportunity escape her.
 She rushed over to her father ant clasped both hands around his arm, wit tragic little shriek.